Federal E-12 Issues

MREA collaborates with rural education representatives to advocate on behalf of Greater Minnesota schools on a federal level and improve the state of the rural education across America.

MREA each year also personally visits with federal lawmakers in Washington D.C. on key education issues and helps shape the national rural E-12 platform. MREA is a member of the NREAC, a national coalition of state and national organizations advocating for educational opportunities for children who live in the rural areas of the United States.

The NREAC, which MREA is a member of, currently has four key priorities:

  • Preserve critical federal funding for rural schools
  • Expand and improve federal programs to address teacher shortages in rural communities
  • Fully fund IDEA
  • Protect rural schools from privatization schemes

Each of these goals fits well within the needs of rural schools in Minnesota.

Resource Center

The U.S. Department of Education has a Rural Education Resource Center. See resources.

Monthly Federal Updates

U.S. Department of Education, Education Almanac

View the latest update

Recent News on Federal Issues

school-nutrition

School Finance Inequities Increase After School Levy Elections 

| Achievement & Assessment, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Results are In School Finance Inequities Increase After School Levy Elections  On November 7, 2023, 65 districts sought approval from their voters for General Obligation Bonds, Capital Project Levies or...
Minnesota

Part V – American Indian Education Aid

| Achievement & Assessment, Capitol News, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Part V - American Indian Education Aid Throughout the summer, MREA dug into major education revenue streams that were impacted by the outcome of the 2023 legislative session:  Total General...

Part IV – Student Support Personnel Aid and School Library Aid

| Achievement & Assessment, Capitol News, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Part IV - Student Support Personnel Aid and School Library Aid In the 2023 legislative session, there were two new forms of revenue based on per pupil funding with a...

Part III – Special Education and English Learner Cross Subsidies

| Achievement & Assessment, Capitol News, Federal, Funding Student Needs, Other Rural News, 一 Featured, 一 HP Funding Student Needs | No Comments
Part III - Special Education and English Learner Cross Subsidies In this article MREA will look at how the revenue increase was distributed throughout the state for the reduction in...